Swivel bearing

ABSTRACT

A ball and socket bearing having a spherical ball member positioned within a non-metallic, molded bearing material which is in turn molded within a socket formed in a socket member. The socket provides openings on either side of the equator of the ball member having a radius less than the radius of the equator of the ball member so that a metal-to-metal interference prevents lateral separation of the members even in the event of bearing material failure. Further, the bearing material is relatively thin, at least between the ball member and socket adjacent to the lateral opening, so that the bearing material can support high lateral loads.



